Solina, Poland

Solina [sɔˈlʲina] is a village in Lesko County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It is the former seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Solina (in 1999 Polańczyk became the new seat). In 2002 the village had a population of 190. It is best known for the tallest water dam in Poland, the Solina Dam, which creates the biggest artificial lake in Poland, Lake Solina. There is no industry left after the liquidation of the Hydrobudowa site near the dam. Main employer is PGE, owning the hydroelectric plant in Solina. Local people highly depend on tourist income in the summer by renting rooms, running restaurants and bars and selling souvenirs. On the east side of the dam there are a lot of attractions open during summer, such as water sport equipment rental, a port with tourist ships, amusement park, disco and beach. Clean air and natural scenery are all around, bringing many visitors in the summer. The few hotels of various standards and local B&B's often are fully booked.